Straight-bar knitting machine



Oct. 29, 1940. H. w. START ET AL 2,219,716

I STRAIGHT-BAR KNITTING MACHINE v Filed uarchs, 194a 2 sheets-sheet 1 1940- H. w. START El AL 2,219,716

STRAIGHT-BAR KNITTING MACHINE I Filed March 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 29, 1940 a UNITED STATES 2,219,716 STRAIGHT-BAR KNITTING MAOHlNE Harry Wilfred Start, Carlton, and Ernest Start,

Wilford, England, assignors to George Blackburn and Sons Limited, Nottingham, England Application March 5, 1940, Serial No. 322,416

'In Great Britain December 6, 1938 9 Claims.

This invention relates to straight-bar knitting machines, which are electrically driven, and refers to improvements in the mechanism which is employed for automatically controlling the speed of the machine from timeto time as is required when knitting full fashioned garments,

In knitting a garment such for example as a stocking, loops have to be transferred at intervals in order to fashion it, and the same operation has to be performed when clocking. When these operations have to be performed,'the speed of the machine is reduced below the normal or maximum speed, and when these operations are completed the normal speed is at once resumed. 15 The slowing down of the machine as described has also to be effected when making plated or spliced and other kinds of fancy Work.

The required variation in speed is effected by automatic means which are adapted to control the speed of the electro-motor which is used to drive the knitting machine, and the object of the present invention is to provide a simple arrangement for this purpose, which is hereinafter described in connection with an electromotor which is controlled by a speed regulator which may be of the induction type.

According to the present invention, the auto matic speed control mechanism comprises three longitudinal slides disposed side by side parallel to each other, and adjustable longitudinally, the middle slide being connected to the speed regulator of the motor, one of the other slides being connected to the manually operated control rod of the machine, and the-other slide being connected to slowing down vmechanism associated with the knitting machine, and coupling means carried by the middle slide for connecting the latter to either of the other slides so disposed that the coupling of one of the outer slides to the middle slide effects the release ofvthe other therefrom. The middle slide is fitted with two pivoted coupling devices which are disposed one in the reverse position to the other and are interconnected. The two outer slides are each fitted with a projecting stud and a tappet, which are so disposed that the outer slides are selfcoupling to the middle slide which is connected to the speed regulator, when they are moved longitudinally, and the coupling of one outer slide other therefrom.

to the regulator slide effects the release of the Fig. a front elevation of the slowing down mechanism.

Figs. 2 to 5 are drawn to a larger scale than Fig. 1.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

In carrying out this invention, the three slides are formed by three parallel bars A, B and C which are disposed side by side a short distance apart in guideways provided in a fixed plate or base D, and secured to the middle slide B which is connected to the speed regulator and is hereinafter referred to as the regulator slide, is a plate E with a part which extends over the outer slide- A which is connected by suitable mechanism, such for example as a rack and pinion gear, to the manually operated control rod F of the machine and is hereinafter referred to as the manual control slide, and with another part which extends-over the slide C which is connected to the slowing down mechanism associated with the machine, and is hereinafter referred to as the slowing down slide.

Mounted on that part of the plate E on the regulator slide B which extends over the manual control slide A, is a pivoted coupling device G hereinafter termed the manual coupling, and mounted on that part of theplate E on the regulator slide B which extends over the slowing down slide C, is another corresponding coupling device H which is hereinafter termed the slowing down coupling,

The coupling devices G, H which are both pivoted to the plate E and angularly adjustable in a plane which is parallel to the plate, are respectively formed with radial arms G H (see Fig.

2), and two radial extensions G Cl and H H One of these coupling devices is disposed in the reverse position to the other, and they are interconnected by a link J which has its ends jointed to the free ends of the arms G H on the two coupling devices. The extensions G H on the respective coupling devices are hook shaped whilst the other extensions G, H each constitute a plain striking part. i

The manual controlslide A is fitted with a projecting stud K, and a tappet which is preferably formed by a screw K which is adjustable in a lug on this slide, and when the latter is moved, the tappet K thereon is adapted to engage with the striking part G on the manual coupling G and move the-hook shapedextension C: thereon into engagement with the stud K on the manual control slide A and couple the latter to the regulator slide B as 'shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The slowing down slide C is fitted with a corresponding stud L and tappet L and the latter when the slide C is moved is adapted to engage with. the striking part 1-1 onthe slowing down coupling H and move the hook shaped extension H on this device into engagement with the stud L on the slowing down slide C and couple the latter to the regulator slide B, and it will be understood that with the arrangement described, when the slowing down slide C is coupled to the regulator slide B the manual control slide A is released therefrom, and that when the manual control slide A is coupled to the regulator slide B, the slowing down slide C will be disconnected therefrom.

The tappets are preferably spring loaded as shown to assist the action of the coupling devices in engaging with and disengaging from the studs on the slides.

The action of the arrangement will now be described, and for this purpose it will be assumed that the speed of the knitting machine will be increased when the regulator slide B is moved to the left, and reduced when this slide is moved to the right, and that the manual control slide A and the regulator slide B are as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 on the extreme right which is the off position and both are coupled together, while the slowing down slide C is on the extreme left. The machine will be started and the speed of the machine will be increased by moving the manual control slide A to the left as it will take the regulator slide B with it, and the speed of the machine will be determined by the distance the said slide is moved by the operator. The slide B will then remain under the control of the operator, who can reduce the speed when desired by moving the manual control slide A to the right again, as its coupling with the regulator slide B is of such a nature that it will move the latter in either direction.

Assuming now that the manual control and regulator slides have been moved to the left far enough to give the machine the maximum speed required and left in this position, the speed of the machine can be reduced by moving the slowing down slide C to the right, by its connection with the slowing down mechanism associated with the machine which will be hereinafter described, when the tappet L on this slide will engage with the striking part H on the slowing down coupling H and turn it so that the part H will engage with the stud L and a coupling will be effected between the slowing down slide C and the regulator slide B and disconnect that between the latter and manual control slide A. The slowing down slide can now move the regulator slide to the right far enough to reduce the speed of the machine to the required extent, leaving the manual control slide A in its maximum speed position. When the maximum speed is required again the slowing down slide C is moved to the left taking the regulator slide B with it, and at the completion of this movement, the coupling is reversed again, that is, the slowing down slide B is disconnected from the regulator slide C and the manual control slide A is coupled to it.

The slowing down slide C is connected by a link to an arm M on a rocking shaft M which is angularly adjusted. by a lever N which is associated with a cam on a cam shaft in the knitting machine and is connected by a link to a second arm M secured on the rocking shaft M, and two or more stops, which are controlled by studs on a controlling chain are provided to engage with and hold the lever N. In the simplest arrangement one stop N is provided to hold the lever N out of action and this stop is moved so as to release the lever N at the required intervals by studs on the ordinary counting mechanism or controlling chain. A second stop N is provided to limit the movement of the lever towards the cam when it is released by the first stop and is a movement which is eifected by a spring. The cam in this case is employed to reset the lever N after it has been released, and the stop N for holding the cam lever out of action, is disposed so that the cam will ease the lever 01f the stop and thus relieve the pressure put upon it at such times as the stop is to be moved. The cam lever N when released by the stop N will follow" the cam until it is checked by the second stop N and this movement will be communicated to the regulator slide B and the speed of the machine slowed down. The stop N is angularly adjusted about its pivot N to release the arm N by an arm N secured on a rocking shaft N which is angularly adjusted at the requisite time by studs on the pattern chain of the machine. 7

The restoration of the speed of the machine to the maximum again is delayed as long as is neces sary by the following arrangement. When the cam lever N is released from its stop N either the cam, or the roller on the cam lever is moved till one is clear of the other, and as a result, the cam lever N is not reset until the cam or the roller 0 is again restored to its normal position. When the roller 0 is moved, this is effected by an arm 0 (see Fig. 4) secured on the shaft N and set to disengage the roller 0 from the cam when the lever N has moved onto the stop N When the cam is moved, this is effected by a longitudinal movement of the cam shaft, in order to bring a different set of cams into action, as is required for example when transferring loops. The second stop N in connection with the cam lever N is adjustable so that the amplitude of the movement of the lever and the slowing down slide connected thereto can be adjusted, and it will be appreciated that the stop N can be readily adapted to be adjusted by studs on the pattern chain so as to adjust the slowing down slide C in two or more positions and thus automatically provide two or more different slow speeds.

The inductor regulator P which is fitted with rotary switch gear, is connected to the regulator slide B by the following arrangement. Mounted on the switch gear axle is a pinion P which engages with a toothed rack connected to the slowing down slide C, or preferably with a toothed segment Q which is mounted on an arm Q one end of which is pivoted at Q whilst the other end of the arm Q is connected by a link Q to the regulator slide so that movement of the latter will rotate the pinion P and adjust the regulator P.

Whilst the invention has been described in connection with a speed regulator of the induction type it will be understood that it can be readily adapted for use with an electric motor the speed of which is controlled by adjusting the position of the brush gear.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. Automatic speed control mechanism for an electrically driven straight-bar knitting machine comprising in combination three parallel longitudinally adjustable slides, one connected to the speed regulator of the motor and the others connected respectively to and adjusted by the manually operated control rod of the machine and automatically operated means associated with the machine, and means carried by the slide connected to the speed regulator for coupling it to either of the other two slides so as to be adjusted thereby arranged so that the coupling of either of the latter slides to the former effects the release of the other therefrom, substantially as described.

2. Automatic speed control mechanism for an electrically driven straight-bar knitting machine comprising in combination a slide connected to and longitudinally adjusted by the manually operated control rod of the machine, a second slide connected to and longitudinally adjusted by automatically operated mechanism associated with the machine, a third slide disposed between the other two and connected to the speed regulator of the motor, hook shaped members carried by the latter slide to engage with studs on the other slides to connect it thereto so arranged that the connection of one of the outer slides to the middle slide eifects the release of the other therefrom, substantially as described.

3. Automatic speed control mechanism for an electrically driven straight-bar knitting machine comprising in combination a slide connected to and longitudinally adjusted by the manually operated control rod of the machine, a second slide connected to and longitudinally adjusted by automatically operated mechanism associated with the machine, a third slide disposed between the other two slides and connected to the speed regulator of the motor, a stud on each of the outer slides, two pivoted hook shaped interconnected coupling members disposed on the middle slide one in the reverse position to the other to engage with the studs onthe respective outer slides, extensions on the hook shaped members to form striking parts, and tappets on the respective slides to engage with these striking parts when the slides are moved longitudinally and move the hook shaped members into engagement with the studs thereon, substantially as described.

4. Automatic speed control mechanism for an electrically driven straight-bar knitting machine comprising in combination, a slide connected to and longitudinally adjusted by the manually operated control rod of the machine, a second slide connected to and longitudinally adjusted by automatically operated mechanism associated with the machine, a third slide disposed between the other two and connected to the speed regulator of the motor, a stud on each of the outer slides, two pivoted hook shaped interconnected coupling members disposed on the middle slide one in the reverse position to the other to engage with the studs on the outer slides, extensions on the hook shaped members to form striking parts, tappets adjustably mounted in lugs on the outer slides to engage with the striking parts on the coupling members to move the latter into engagement with the studs and springs on the tappets to hold the coupling members in engagement with the studs, substantially as described. I

5. Automatic speed. control mechanism for an electrically driven straight-bar knitting machine, comprising in combination, a slide connected to and longitudinally adjusted by the manually operated control rod of the machine, a second slide connected to an arm on a rocking shaft, means for operating the rocking shaft, a third slide disposed between the other two and connected to the speed regulator of the motor, and means carried by this latter slide adapted to connect it to either of the other two slides to be adjusted thereby, substantially as described.

6. Automatic speed control mechanism for an electrically driven straight-bar knittingmachine comprising in combination, a slide connected to and longitudinally adjusted by the manually operated control rod of the machine, a second slide, a rocking shaft, an arm on the rocking shaft connected to the second slide, a cam operated lever connected to an arm on the rocking shaft and normally held out of action, means for bringing the cam lever into action when desired, a third slide disposed between the other two slides and connected to the speed regulator of the motor and means carried by this latter slide to connect it to either of the other two slides to be adjusted thereby, substantially as described.

7. Automatic speed control mechanism for an electrically driven straight-bar knitting machine comprising in combination, a slide connected to and longitudinally adjusted by themanually operated control rodof the machine, a second slide, a rocking shaft, an arm on the rocking shaft connectedto the second slide, a cam operated lever connected to an arm on the rocking shaft, a stop for holding the lever out of action, a pattern chain, studs on the pattern chain to move the stop and release the lever, a'third slide disposed between the other two and connected to the speed regulator of the motor and means carried by this latter slide to connect it to either of the other two slides to be adjusted thereby, substantially as described.

8. Automatic speed control mechanism for an electrically driven straight-bar knitting machine comprising in combination, a slide connected to and longitudinally adjusted by the manually operated control rod of the machine, a second slide, a rocking shaft, an arm on the rocking shaft connected to the second slide, a lever connected to an arm on the rocking shaft, a roller on the lever, a cam to engage with the roller, a stop to hold the lever out of action, means for moving the stop to release the lever, means for moving and holding the roller out of engagement with the cam after thelever has been released, a third slide disposed between the other two slides and connected to the speed regulator of the motor and means carried by this latter slide to connect it to either of the other two slides to be adjusted thereby, substantially as described.

9. Automatic speedcontrol mechanism for an A electrically driven straight-bar knitting'machine comprising in combination, a slide connected to and longitudinally adjusted by the manually operated control rod of the machine, a second slide, a rocking shaft, an arm on the rocking shaft connected to the second slide, a lever connected to an arm on the rocking shaft, a stop to hold the lever out of action, means for moving the stop to release the lever, a roller on the lever, a cam to engage with the roller, means for disengaging the roller from the cam, an adjustable stop disposed in the path of the lever to limit its movement when released, a third slide disposed between the other two and connected to the speed regulator of the motor, and means carried by this latter slide to connect it to either of the other two slides to be adjusted thereby, substantially as described.

HARRY WILFRED START. ERNEST START. 

